shower valve replacement

we're renovating our "guest bath" (we did the master bath awhile ago) part of the renovation is to replace all the chrome fixtures with "oil rubbed bronze" colored fixtures. we bought all new fixtures including the shower. now,I see that I'm going to have to replace the shower valve.( the Price Phister set came with a nice new one) my question is whether this can be replaced from the tub side or whether I'm going to have to get access behind the shower and tub. luckily,the towel closet is right behind but it looks like I'd have to cut some sheetrock. so what do you think?

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shower valve replacement

amm,
The towel closet is your best avenue IMHO (easier and less expensive faucet assembly), but if you want, you also can get a new faucet with a very large estucheon plate that can be installed from the tub side (at a plumbing supply house). They come with a template to show where to cut a larger hole through your shower side.
Good Luck!
Mike

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shower valve replacement

I agree..always easier from the back side...diverters come in different formats and you don't know how big a hole you will need. Some you solder directly into and others you need to solder on a threaded coupler. Anyway, changing from behind gives you a chance to check for leaks.

shower valve replacement

well,they say "a picture is worth a thousand words" so look at the pic to see what I was confronted with when I took off the shower valve cover plate. yes,the "sorry fool" who did the piping for that bathroom not only screwed up the sink faucet but also reversed the pipes for the shower: cold on left and hot on right. therefore,whoever installed the valve had to get the right pipe to the other side of the valve! not only that,but the inlets on the new valve are screw type and the old valve has solder type fittings. (not that this makes much difference)
my question is whether I can use flexible pipe (like faucets) to go from the hot/cold pipes to the valve or will I have to do a bunch of soldering of copper pipes like it is now?

shower valve replacement

shower valve replacement

Lord all mighty..looks like a trailer for an Alien movie. Can you get access from behind to redo it properly? I would straighten the pipes proper and solder on new threads to eliminate all of those elbows. Most times shower plumbing is behind an adjoining closet or some such discrete area. I wonder why the installer didn't just reverse the valve?

shower valve replacement

before you tear out the old valve you could check with a plumbing supply warehouse to see if a new trim kit would be acceptable to your re-do. If you find one then rebuild your delta, install new trim kit, and your good to go.